• This was the 1644th Test match in cricket history.
• Hashan Tillakaratne (93) was getting out in the nineties for the second time against New Zealand. He had made an identical score at Colombo SSC in 1992-93. He now has the most scores in nineties for Sri Lanka against New Zealand. Aravinda de Silva, Chamara Dunusinghe and Arjuna Ranatunga each has one ninety to his name.
• Tillakaratne has now made five scores in ninety (including one unbeaten innings). No other Sri Lankan has recorded more than three nineties.
• The catch of Fleming (off Dharmasena) in second innings was 100th dismissal (79 catches & 21 stumpings) for Romesh Kaluwitharana as a wicket-keeper. He became first Sri Lankan and 29th ‘keeper overall to do so.
• By taking 42 Tests to complete his century of dismissals Kaluwitharana became the second (joint) slowest in Test cricket along with England’s Godfrey Evans and India’s Syed Kirmani. Only Pakistan’s Moin Khan (46) has taken more Tests to reach this landmark.
• With this, Kaluwitharana also completed the allround double of 1000 runs and 100 dismissals.
• Kaluwitharana’s six dismissals in this match are the most by a Sri Lankan against New Zealand at home soil. Gamini Wicremasinghe had effected five dismissals at Moratuwa in 1992-93.
• Muttiah Muralitharan, when dismissed Daryl Tuffey in New Zealand's second innings, completed his 450 wickets. He became first Sri Lankan and only the third bowler in Test chronicles after West Indian Courtney Walsh (519 wickets in 132 matches) and Australian Shane Warne (491 wickets in 107 matches).
• By taking 80 Tests to reach this landmark, Muralitharan also became the fastest to do so. Walsh and Warne had taken 118 and 101 Tests respectively for their 450 wickets.
• Muralitharan’s 5 for 49 in the second innings was his 37th World Record five-wicket haul in a Test innings. This takes him ahead of New Zealander Richard Hadlee who had performed this feat 36 times in his career.
• Tillakaratne has now captained Sri Lanka in three Tests and all three matches have been drawn !

(Article: Copyright © 2003 Rajneesh Gupta)